The Bulls have made two late changes to their matchday squad for Saturday’s meeting with the All Blacks, with Springboks Elrigh Louw and Johan Grobbelaar added to the bench after being released from the national squad.
The pair have been given permission to play for the Pretoria-based side in order to gain valuable game time before the Springboks begin the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand.
Louw and Grobbelaar travelled back from Argentina and have had only one training session with the Bulls. They will therefore start among the replacements for the third tour match against the All Blacks at Loftus Versfeld.
“It’s great to have them with us, and we’re looking forward to the challenge,” Bulls coach Johan Ackermann commented.
The match will kick off at 19:00 on Saturday and represents the All Blacks’ final warm-up before they face the Springboks in the first Test on 22 August.
The changes provide a boost for the Bulls as they prepare to face a New Zealand side that includes several established international players. The All Blacks are also expecting a demanding contest against a Bulls team Ackermann believes will combine physicality with a willingness to attack when opportunities arise.
New Zealand coach Dave Rennie said he was familiar with Ackermann and understood the challenge his side would face at Loftus Versfeld.
“I coached against Johan. He was at the Lions when I was at the Chiefs. He was over in the UK at Gloucester – not that we came against each other then when I was at Glasgow – and basically he left Japan as I arrived,” Rennie said.
“I know him well. I respect what he’s done. We know what’s coming. He’s always got a tough forward pack, but they do have a mindset where they’re prepared to play, a little bit more than the two sides we’ve faced so far,” he said.
“They’ll still kick a lot and they’ll still challenge us, but they will play if they get an opportunity.”
The Bulls will be captained by Marcell Coetzee, with Willie le Roux at full-back and Curwin Bosch starting at fly-half. Johan Grobbelaar is listed among the replacements, while Elrigh Louw will provide another option in the forwards.
Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Thaakir Abrahams, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Juann Else, 1 Alu Tshakweni. Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Khuta Mchunu, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Katlego Letebele, 23 Hakeem Kunene.
All Blacks: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Anton Segner, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor (c), 1 Xavier Numia. Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 George Bower, 18 Siale Lauaki, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Emoni Narawa.
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